Western Colorado psychiatric hospital has “less than 30 days’ cash on hand” before it must close, leaders say
Financial challenges, hiring concerns, intense scrutiny from regulatory agencies and problems with insurance reimbursement may lead to West Springs Hospital’s closure
Hugh Carey/The Colorado Sun
A psychiatric hospital providing mental health and addiction services to people across 23,000 square miles in western Colorado could shut down within weeks if it can’t find the funding it needs to stay open.
Persistent financial challenges, problems hiring staff, intense scrutiny from regulatory agencies and trouble getting paid by insurers could cause West Springs Hospital in Grand Junction to close, facility leaders announced earlier this week.
The closure of the hospital would mean the loss of its emergency psychiatric department, a vital resource for law enforcement officers who bring people in crisis there to help keep them out of jails and prisons, the hospital’s online announcement says.
“We have less than 30 days’ cash on hand,” said John M. Sheehan, president and CEO of Mind Springs Health, the owner of West Springs Hospital. “This is the only psychiatric facility between Denver and Salt Lake City. It’s literally providing care in a desert, and if it goes away, patients will die.”
Read more from Tatiana Flowers at ColoradoSun.com
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